Farmstrong was launched just under a year ago and already is having a big impact on the farming community. The feedback we get is that the time is absolutely right for a programme on farmer health and wellbeing.

Many farmers across the country have become Farmstrong enthusiasts. The response to our healthy thinking workshops has been so positive we have scheduled another series for this year. Our Farmstrong website has been very popular – it provides information on topics such as nutrition, keeping fit, managing fatigue, the importance of getting a break from the farming routine. Our Facebook community is also growing every week, and how has more than 6,000 followers.

Most encouragingly the Farmstrong call to action is spreading by word of mouth, farmer to farmer. That’s the best endorsement for the programme we can get.

In April Farmstrong Fit4Farming Cycle Tour saw a core pelaton of 20 farmers and supporters ride 1,400 kms from Ngatea to the Bluff to raise awareness about the importance of keeping fit on the farm. They hosted events in six rural communities along the way and attracted a lot of media attention.

The media, especially the rural media, have taken a keen interest in Farmstrong. We have been encouraged by the media’s keenness to get the live well farm well message out to New Zealand’s rural communities.